Portrait of the Mlles. Mollien by Rouget, 1811
Ah yes, it is fashion day.
A Ball Gown ~ April 1811
A white sarsenet or satin petticoat, with short sleeves, over which is worn a body and drapery of light-blue gauze, formed in three points, or vandykes over the petticoat, reaching nearly to the bottom, the ends finished with white silk tassels. It is crossed over the figure in fronts towards the left side, and fastened in tufts of bows of the same colour. A short sash tied in a bow on the left side. Sleeves looped up in front of the arm. The bottom of the petticoat is trimmed in vandykes to correspond. White silk stockings and blue kid shoes.The hair twisted up behind and redressed in full curls, ornamented with a bandeau of light blue twisted crape and roses. White kid gloves.
And in Paris they were wearing Cashmere Shawls
This one in pink has an amazingly low neck line and the lady carries another shawl in white.
Until next time, Happy Rambles.
The pink dress is wonderful yet the neckline is very severe.
ReplyDeleteEvery time you do fashion day, I swear I get closer to finding someone to make me one of these dresses. Just so I can, like, do the dishes. And, of course, pretend to be Elizabeth Bennett. Why, Mr. Darcy! Shocking! *giggle*
ReplyDeleteThat bodies is almost non-existent, Gail. I don't think I would dare.lol
ReplyDeleteAlyssia, I often wonder what it would have been like to wear gowns like that all the time. Very restricting, I should imagine. I do have one, but I only get to wear it once a year at the Beau Monde Soiree.
Ahem, that would be bodice not bodies. Butter fingers.
ReplyDeleteCan you tell me more about portrait of the Mlles Mollien used on the cover of Pride and Prejudice. I have been trying to find out why and how they came to use this and who the two women are depicting. Thanks for any help.
ReplyDeleteThe most I can make out is that the Comte Mollien was their uncle and that he was high up in Napoleon's government, since Tallyrand reports him as being present with several other important men when the issue of Napoleon's marriage was discussed.
ReplyDeleteAs to why it would be on the cover of P & P one would have to get that information from the publisher. It is not unusual for a publisher to select a painting from the era of the historical book. This one is out of copyright, and the image could have been purchased or licensed from the museum where it hangs. It is very evocative of the "Regency era" with those gowns and it is two girls much like one would imagine the two older Bennet girls.